Salem police said a woman told them that Walton Valentin, 30, of Methuen, Mass., jumped into her car in Lawrence, Mass., held a gun to her stomach and threatened to kill her family.

"The suspect showed up at her house," said Deputy Chief Shawn Patten. "When she was trying to leave, he jumped in her vehicle, pulled a gun on her, put it on her stomach and told her to drive."

Police said Valentin told her to drive to the Park View Inn in Salem. Investigators said they believe he wanted to leave Massachusetts because he knew there were active warrants against him there.

The woman told police that when they were in the hotel room, Valentin pointed the gun at her and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed. He then choked her and struck her repeatedly in the head with the gun, police said.

When the woman regained consciousness, she called police. Investigators said Valentin stole the woman's minivan and left before police arrived. The vehicle was later found in Andover, Mass.